Openfilm Announces Changes to Get It Made Short Film Competition

New Rules Extend Submission Period to Six Months, Increase Top Prize to One-Half Million Dollars in Cash and Film Financing Contract


LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - September 30, 2010) -  Openfilm.com, the online platform that connects independent filmmakers with the professional community and helps them garner exposure for their work, today announced that the submission period for its Get It Made short film competition will be increased from three to six months, effective immediately.

The change was made to allow more time for the entered films to be screened by the Openfilm community and for the filmmakers to promote interest in their submissions. The films are presented in the highest quality available online on the Openfilm site.

Under the new contest structure, Openfilm will continue to award at least $1 million in prize money to its winning filmmakers by increasing its grand prize packages. Initially, $50,000 in cash and $200,000 in an Openfilm Studios film financing contract, the grand prize will now total $50,000 in cash and $450,000 in financing to develop the short into a feature film with Openfilm Studios.

"The newly extended time period will allow more time for filmmakers to submit and most importantly ample time for the Openfilm community to screen the submissions as they are uploaded to the site," said Dmitry Kozko, Openfilm's CEO and co-founder. "We feel this provides a more valuable platform for our community."

In the new contest structure, the Openfilm community and the Openfilm Executive Team will choose 10 finalist films. The Advisory Board, chaired by famed actor James Caan, will then evaluate each finalist film and collectively select a grand winner.

The main logistics of the competition will remain the same: Short films with a running length of 40 minutes or less may be entered to the contest during the six-month submission period. The Openfilm community screens the films and votes on their favorites during the scheduled voting period.

The 10 finalist films will be screened and analyzed by the Advisory Board consisting of James Caan, Robert Duvall, Scott Caan and Mark Rydell, who will select the final winner. Each of the contest finalists will receive feedback from the Advisory Board.

The 2nd Get It Made competition is now open and submissions are being accepted until December 31, 2010. More information about submitting a film is available at http://www.openfilm.com. Openfilm urges filmmakers to submit their work early for it allows more time in which films can be viewed and voted on by members of the community.

The winner of the 1st Get It Made competition was selected from six finalists announced in August. A video about the six finalists and the winning submission, "Help," a short by Val Lauren, is now online at: http://www.openfilm.com/videos/1st-get-it made/?utm_source=pressrelease&utm_medium=views-count&utm_campaign=gimannouncement

The winner of the 2nd Get It Made competition will be announced on or about February 8, 2011.

About Openfilm

Openfilm is an online technology company that is advancing the world of independent film by providing a platform for filmmakers to expand their careers and gain exposure and revenue for their work. Led by an Advisory Board of well-established industry professionals, James Caan, Scott Caan, Robert Duvall and Mark Rydell, Openfilm is working to transform the way independent films are discovered, financed and distributed. Through its unique contests, live chats and social networking, Openfilm is driving the world of independent film forward. For more information, visit: http://www.openfilm.com

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